Electrocatalytic activity of perovskite La1-xSrxMnO3 towards hydrogen peroxide reduction in alkaline medium

Perovskite-type series of compounds La1-xSrxMnO3 are synthesized by a sol-gel method using Chitosan as the gelling agent. Their catalytic activity for hydrogen peroxide electroreduction in 3.0 mol dm(-3) KOH at room temperature is evaluated by means of cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Effects of annealing temperature and the ratio of La to Sr of La1-xSrxMnO3 on their catalytic performance are investigated. Among this series of compounds. La0.4Sr0.6MnO3 calcined at 650 degrees C exhibits the highest activity, which is comparable with Co3O4. An aluminum-hydrogen peroxide semi-fuel cell using La0.4Sr0.6MnO3 as cathode catalyst achieves a peak power density of 170 mW cm(-2) at 170 mA cm(-2) and 1.0 V running on 0.6 mol dm(-3) H2O2. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.